Study on the Mechanism of Adipose Stem Cells-Conduit Arteriosus Complex Repair of Facial Nerve Injury

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to study and evaluate the mechanism of adipose-derived stem cells-ductus arteriosus compound on the repair of facial nerve defects in rats. Methods: A total of 60 Sprague Dawley (SD) female rats (100–120 g), 5 weeks after birth, were randomly divided into 6 groups: Group A (arterial ductus group); Group B (arterial duct-autologous adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) group); Group C (artery-differentiated (d) ADSCs group); Group D (artery-stem cells (SCs) group); Group E (autologous nerve group); and Group F (sham-operated group) (n = 10/group). The rats in groups A and E were treated with decellularized arterial catheter combined with cell-free medium, autologous ADSCs, PKH26-labeled autologous dADSCs, autologous SCs, and bridging repair through autologous nerves, and the corresponding nerves of the rats in Group F were isolated and kept intact. The motor function of unilateral vibrissae, compound action potential of facial nerve buccal nerve muscle, and retrograde tracing of motoneuron nuclei of facial nerve buccal branch were compared among the groups. Results: The animals in all groups survived after the operation without serious postoperative complications, and all facial wounds healed spontaneously without signs of discomfort. The arterial ducts of the rats in groups A and E were compatible with the host tissue, and some of the ducts were absorbed, but no neuroma formed or was significantly dislodged. After comparing the unilateral vibrissa motor function, regenerated buccal branch nerve muscle compound action potential, and retrograde tracing of the buccal branch motoneuron nuclei in each group, the recovery of Group E rats was the best, and the recovery of Group C was better than that of Group A, while the recovery of Group B was slightly inferior to groups D and E. Morphological analysis of the buccal branch of the regenerated facial nerve showed the highest density of myelinated nerve fibers in Group C and the longest diameter of myelinated nerve fibers and thickness of myelin sheath in Group E. The rats in Group A exhibited the highest parameters, and all parameters in Group F remained at normal levels. Conclusion: Adipose-derived stem cell-artery duct composite repair provides a new approach to the repair of peripheral facial nerve injury with a certain facilitative effect.